Friday, February 15, 2008

AN ARTFUL ADVENTURE#1

"The summer I spent in Taos I sometimes rode out to the eastern hills late in the afternoon with the sun at my back. When the sun went down and was not shining in my eyes I would ride back to the Pueblo......It was a wide wide quiet area. - Georgia O'Keeffe

TRIP TO SEDONA, ARIZONA I am back home after an artful adventure. Last week, I had the chance to escape life's routine. Although I love to paint, sometimes I needed to take a break from painting or else life gets boring. I spent four days in Sedona and three days in Phoenix, Arizona. My husband had a conference in Phoenix for three days and I came along as usual. Prior to his conference, we visited Sedona. From Los Angeles we flew to Phoenix and drove to Sedona which is about 2 hours. This was our third trip to Sedona and as always, this beautiful town inspires and energizes me. Sedona is famous for those wonderful RED rocks dotting the landscape. There are countless of them. I will feature those RED rocks in a later blog. Meanwhile, I am posting about the "Pueblos of the Southwest." At present Sedona has many brand new Pueblos. Most of them are resorts, luxury hotels and single family dwellings. The Pueblos here are not inhibited by the Indians of the Southwest. They are mostly for visitors and tourists like us. WHAT IS A PUEBLO? In the Philippines, where I was born, "Pueblo" is our Spanish word for a town. In the American Southwest a "Pueblo" is a communal structure for multiple dwelling. Built of adobe or stone. Adobe is the sun dried brick. Typically Pueblos were many storied and terraced, the structure were often placed against cliff walls and ground-floor. Entry was usually through the roof by ladder. The above photo is the Pueblo that Georgia O'Keeffe described from the top quotation. Georgia was a famous American artist and lived in New Mexico during the nineteenth century. She was fascinated by the Pueblo, which she decribed as "wide wide and quiet area. During a past trip to Taos, New Mexico in the summer of 1996, I saw my first and authentic Indian Pueblos. Like Georgia, I was fascinated with the beauty and simple architetural design of the Pueblos. I thought, how wonderful to live in such kind of architectural beauty. When my husband and I toured the interior, I was very dissappointed to see that it was cramped, dark and lack modern facilities for comfortble living that Americans are used too. There are no modern kitchen appliances, sink, faucet and running water. No luxurious bath tubs and shower head. No carpeting. I wouldn't be happy living in Pueblo. But still the architectural beauty of the Pueblos fascinated me for many years. SEDONA, ARIZONA My hubby and I made our first trip to Sedona in Spring (2004). Then came back two years later in 2006, around my birthday week. During that trip we stayed at the Hyatt Vacation Club to view their time-share presentation. My husband and I were so fascinated and impressed by this newly built pueblo-resort. The architecture was designed and styled after a typical Indian Pueblo but with all the luxuries and coveniences one could dream off. We had attended many time -share presentations before but we were skeptical about buying one. This time, there was no hesitation and we finally bought a two-bedroom time -share. Little did I know that someday, we would be able to live and owned a piece of a modern -Pueblo. I couldn't believe it.
HYATT VACATION CLUB (SEDONA, PINON POINT) This vacation club is beautifully and strategically located in the heart of Sedona with awesome RED rocks and views wrapped around it. The pueblo-style buildings have adobe walls and flat roofs. Since the area is surrounded with myriads of RED rocks the Pueblo-buildings were painted in taupe shade to differentiate it. It is interesting that there are many pueblos painted in different colors - clay, sienna, sandstone, dark gray, brown and Arizona amethyst. Too much RED is glaring and montonous to the eyes.
VIEW OF OUR UNIT Every time we go to Sedona, we stay in our Pueblo-suite above (third floor). I couldn't believe that this Pueblos have all the luxuries and conveniences of an American lifestyle. The kitchen has a refrigerator, oven, microwave, double sink, dishwasher, coffee maker, utensils, pots and pans. The cabinets are furnished with glassws, wine glasses, plates, cups, bowls, saucers and silver wares. It has dining area w/ huge table and chair good for six people. The living room is gorgeously furnished with Southwest styled couch, with fire place and huge TV set. The bedroom has a king size bed and another TV. The bathroom is as big as the bedroom with marbled walls and floorings. It has warm running water for shower. The huge bathtub/ jacuzzi took our breath away. Interiors are decorated with Navajo rugs, pueblo pottery and basket.
ANOTHER VIEW OF THE PUEBLO -STYLE ARCHITECTURE On the right side are shops and restaurants just steps away from the vacation club. It's ironic that we rarely cook inside our Pueblo with many tempting restaurants, ice-cream parlor and coffee shops around.
FOUR DAYS TRIP This was an artful adventure that re-energized and refreshed us. Sedona is blessed with serenity and tranquility. Many artists and tourists will always be inspired and never get bored here. There are myriads of art galleries (about 40) in every corner, from Southwest, contemporary to traditional style. This is a haven for artists. Many artists live and thrive here in Sedona. I think artists of all kinds of media are making good money here. Sedona is an expensive place to live. Many rich art collectors and art lovers visit this tourist place. This is an inspiring place where I will be happy to live and paint too but I am worried about my husband. He will surely get bored because there are no Fry's Electronics, Best Buy or Costco here. He has to drive to Phoenix, about two hours away. It's the closest big city, to buy electronic parts. At least, we can visit Sedona every year and enjoy our modern-Pueblo. When I am on vacation, I don't paint. Why? For me it's a time to get away from my brushes. But after getting away, it's weird that I am raring to get back to my brushes, oils and easel. It's time to paint the town RED again.

23 comments:

Lloyd Irving Bradbury said...

50 years ago as a soloder in Elpaso I explored New Mexico. Thren the ders3ert was king and most areas still native. I was chased by idians out of Lincoln state park. They were sure I was fed and wanted to take their drugs. At that time the Idians did nothve the vrace track at taos. Even in Elpaso it took three cents to cross the border by trolly because you dared not to take it to Mexico. In those days only alemagordo was nice for the torest.; but even then there were many artists

Ebb Tide said...

Lloyd, thanks for sharing your nice story about El Paso in New Mexico. Glad to know that there were many artists there even 50 years ago. Long lived the artists.

SandyCarlson said...

That pueblo sure is beautiful. I can see the concept carried into the architecture of the other buildings you photographed. What a trip! God bless, and thanks for stopping by.

Ebb Tide said...

Sandy-Thanks for thinking with me in the same line. Yes, the pueblo is architecturally beautiful and wide. I plan to paint more pueblos in the future.

Anonymous said...

What an interesting story about the pueblos of the southwest! A beautiful architecture is also a work of art. Thanks for sharing the fascinating photos. Took my boredom away from reading other's blog.

Ebb Tide said...

Angel- thanks for your nice feedback. Indeed it was a good trip to revisit the Sedona pueblos.
Also, during our trip to the Oak Creek Canyon, we got stucked in the mountain snow. Three unknown angels (mostly guys) helped shoveled the ice under our car. We were to move the car and get back to our hotel. Thank God for unexpected obstacle and angels everywhere.

Anonymous said...

Hi Auntie Evelyn,
Welcome back from Sedona! My best friend moved to the desert last April (outside Phoenix) and hopefully we'll be visiting there over Spring break. It really is breathtaking there. The sunsets are just phenomenal. I've really been wanting to visit Sedona. SEDONA, the Spiritual Mecca of the Southwest.....it sounds like such an intriguing and romantic place.

I really enjoy your blog and posted artwork. Your entries are so descriptive and alive, a fun read. Anyway, I've dropped in a few times but never stopped to actually say "hello". Send my very best wishes to everyone.
:-)Skye

Lloyd Irving Bradbury said...

When i was in ElPaso before the Viet war. They had a fountain in the center of town. They kept an allegator in it so you didnt go in it. It was called SanJoesinto plaza. here was 180 miles of dersert from Elpaso to the neatrest New Mwxico town. It was only a two lane non interstate you dare not travel it at ASunset many cars met head on. IN Elpaso there was a bleak rocky mountain hill Where I saw a KC 18 tanker plan turninto it All was left was a burn mark on the mountain Tryed to clim it bur too many rattle snakes on the ledges. Everyone carire ar firearm in the bars on the outskirs No one seemed to get shot. Only once when a man from NY tried to rob a gasstation. He was shot nine times by nine different people. It was a worse crime there to shot a bird there since there were very few.

Lloyd Irving Bradbury said...

One day I crossed the border for 3 cents. Went to a market to buy an armadillo purse. the Rio Grand was so small I wondered they called mexican illigals wer backs. ElPaso as a border toen was a mean place were life was very short. I ate a steak there but it tasted terrable. Cow was not greain feed there. They animals were all qalive in the butcher syore. The weather was great there but it seemed to never rain, plenty of sand storms thought that would pit your winshield.

Ebb Tide said...

Lloyd- thanks for the additional story.I have never been to El Paso but plan to visit it someday.Gone are the days when you could cross the border for 3 cents only. A gallon of gas alone cost more than three dollars today.

Ebb Tide said...

Lloyd, I remember El Paso is in Texas anc close to the New Mexico border. I didn't know about those gruesome stories about alligators,
rattle snakes and so forth. I am sure life there now is different as they have many tourists there.

Ebb Tide said...

Skye-thanks for your wonderful comment and compliment. I didn't know you have been reading my blog until now.I am glad you're enjoying read it. I am sure you'll love Sedona. There are lots of things to do there. Next week, I'll try to post some of the sights that we enjoyed.

Anonymous said...

Wow! I love Sedona. What an inspring place wherever you look!

Ebb Tide said...

Ligaya- I am glad you love Sedona too. We have the same taste when it comes to artistic and inspiring place.

Lloyd Irving Bradbury said...

i DWELL IN THWE ARTIC COLD
mY FINGER STIFF AND OLD
mY LOVED ONES LIKE THE DEER
i HOPE AND PRAY THAT THEY ARE NEARWHERE Wrmtg is not a fear

Ebb Tide said...

Hi Lloyd! Its cold here too but probably not as cold like your area. Today, I did some sketches, since it's to dark paint. Yesterday was sunny but had many visitors and distractions.

palma tayona said...

beautiful countryside or pueblo pictures. reminds me of pictures of those mexican buildings in the dessert. well, eventhough i have never been on that neck of the woods, it sure is nice to get a visual feel of that area.

:-)

thanks ebb!!

Ebb Tide said...

Hi PT! Good to hear from you again. The pueblo-style architecture was Indian-American idea. Later this type of style influenced Mexican architecture. Will research more about it when time permits.

Lloyd Irving Bradbury said...

Like the ranch style all art is influnced by the past
Even contemperary influences or mimics our life style for the search for self

SandyCarlson said...

I had to stop by to warm up on a cold and rainy day! Thanks for being today's sunshine!

Lloyd Irving Bradbury said...

Nice today for making Indian prints
Thinking of yoy
went to gruppys for coffee saw friends missy and David making a new painting for Riverseide young wemons charity club auction

SeƱor Enrique said...

Hopefully, one day, I, too, will get a chance to photograph this beautiful landscape! Beautiful land :)

Lloyd Irving Bradbury said...

see my tv interview link